Here's my guess: Beaked spiny polygala (aka, Notch beaked milkwort) - scientific name Polygala heterorhyncha. LINK: http://calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_que ... ecnum=6731 You were probably near Chloride City when you saw the plant. If not, it would be interesting to know where you found it.

Yes! We did indeed see this at Chloride City, in several places. What was confusing to me was this plant had no apparent leaves, just pointy stems and flowers, but the photos online showed little leaves.